PNG Government drops plan for election fee hike

4:44 pm on 3 April 2017

The nomination fee for the Papua New Guinea general election will remain at US$315 per candidate following the Government's decision to shelve its proposal to hike the fee to $US3,152.

Crowd at an election rally in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea.

Crowd at an election rally in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

The National newspaper reported that the Finance Minister, James Marape, said it would be up to the next government to bring the issue up for debate in parliament.

He said the government had given consideration to peoples views that the fee remain unchanged for this year's poll, but he said they would consider changes for the 2022 general election.

Mr Marape said this would include a recommendation that candidates who garner 20 percent or more of the vote would get their money back.

Parliament had been scheduled to debate the amendments at its final sitting tomorrow.

Mr Marape said the farewell for founding prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, had also been brought forward to Tuesday.

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